I've just come across an interesting (to me anyway) discovery and was wondering if anyone had more information before I stick myself head-first in to my web traffic.

The scenario,

I'm coding a new version of an old web-based app (wanted to be a developer before I saw the light, now I'm responsible for my old apps...). I'm running TamperData under Firefox 3 to fake some of my input to see how the system responds. Up pops a post request I wasn't expecting passing a cookie ID to static.cache.l.google.com.

Now I can't find the referenced cookie on my system to see what info is held, likewise I can't find any information on the web (in hindsight using Google may not be the smartest move I've made today). This request has only been sent once so I can't determine how regularly I am/have been providing this info to Google but it has me slightly miffed. I'm sure that this would have been mentioned in the extensive and readable license agreement I read thoroughly before signing my life away agreeing to the conditions.

If anyone has any info or knowledge of this I'd be interested to here from you, might save me a few hours that could be put to more productive use (Like Lego Star Wars......)

BillV wrote:Second, could it be the standard google tracking cookie that G-Zapper is meant to block?

I haven't come across gzapper before, looking through the site I think you may have hit the nail on the head. The bit that throw me was that I wasn't using google at the time (and hadn't in the current firefox session) so I'm assuming that this is linked through from the integrated search bar.

As nice as the Google bar and others can be, I just don't trust them. I'm not paranoid (well any more paranoid than most security guys), but I don't like the idea of my surfing habits being tracked just so they can supposedly send me span that their filter will have to catch. Does that make sense to any one? Any ways, this is just one more reason to stay away form tool bars. Thanks, RR.

dalepearson wrote:Time to try what is supposed to be the more private google - www.cuil.com

Cheers Dale, I haven't seen cuil before so I'll take a look. Although the fact that their privacy statement claims that thy don't track you by cookie and then explain why they need cookies to track your preference I think I might do a bit of digging into the cookie contents before I trust them completely (as I'm generally more paranoid than the next security guy )

g00d_4sh wrote:Tool bars "are the devil" as I say. I stick to Opera as my browser...

added to list of possible replacements, cheers for the tip...

BillV wrote:I think I have an older (free) version of that tool laying around somewhere if you want it. As far as I know it still does the job.

If you've got a free version handy I'd appreciate a look-see to figure out how it ticks, no biggy if you can't find it, wouldn't want to put you out.

I agree with those who avoid toolbars like the plague and google desktop. They know enough about me from search terms and IP address only-- I don't need to be logging in, letting them index all my email, or given them a chance to blithely index my hard drive to tune ad delivery to me. Minority Report anyone?